Breastfeeding could be allowed in Commons as 'role model' to society, as Speaker John Bercow prepares to tackle 'antiquated' practices

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Speaker John Bercow, right, may look to overturn a ban on breastfeeding in the Chamber of the House of Commons which was upheld by his predecessors Betty Boothroyd, left, and Michael Martin, centreCredit:
Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph/Reuters/PA

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John Bercow, the Speaker of the Commons, welcomed the report which concluded that allowing women to breastfeed would be "symbolic" and showcase the Commons as a "role-model parent friendly institution".

The review, which aims to tackle sexism in Parliament, also suggests that transgender lavatories should be introduced to address "gender insensitivities" in the Commons.

Commons Speaker John Bercow Mr Bercow said that Parliament has been 'lazy' in reforming its 'antiquated' traditionsCredit:
Press Association

It states that the requirement for male MPs to wear a suit and tie in the Commons should be lifted because there is no "equivalent level of formality" for women, and says that MPs should be allowed to wear their "national costume" to reflect the UK's "multicultural traditions".

The report also states that the requirement for male MPs to wear a suit and tie in the Commons should be liftedCredit:
PA Wire

The review recommends that more portraits of women should be hung in Parliament and urges the Commons to abandon the rule requiring an MPs to have been dead for a decade before paintings of them can be displayed.

Prime Minister's Questions should be heard in "silence", it suggests, amid concerns that the tradition has become too "rowdy" and "gladiatorial" leaving some MPs struggling to contribute.

Mr Bercow, who will now chair a committee which will look at implementing the report's recommendations, said that Parliament had been "lazy" in reforming its "antiquated" traditions.

He said: "[The report] will prove to be both important and enduring. We do tend to preserve by laziness, rather antiquated practices and prejudice.

"We won't achieve everything in this paper overnight but by bringing people together we will achieve worthwhile things."

The review was conducted by Sarah Childs, a professor of gender and politics at Bristol University, who was seconded to Parliament for a year to address the issue of sexism in Parliament.

Mr Bercow told her at the launch of the report: "There is a big journey to be undertaken and you have been a leading light on this journey in a way that has been pretty inspiring and warrants a huge congratulations."

We won't achieve everything in this paper overnight but by bringing people together we will achieve worthwhile thingsJohn Bercow

Prof Childs acknowledges in the report that the debate around breastfeeding in Parliament is likely to prove "highly charged".

In 2001, Baroness Boothroyd, the then Speaker, said: "You wouldn't start feeding your child if you worked on a supermarket checkout or if you were a solicitor having a meeting with a client."

However, the report states allowing breastfeeding would "enable all members to participate fully in House business".

Prof Childs has also said that if parties fail to ensure at least half of of their candidates are women before the 2020 election, new legislation should be introduced to allow for quotas in 2025.

The report suggests that votes and debated in house of Commons business should be based around "normal business hours" which would allow less exhausted MPs to make better decision and aid a "work/life" balance.

The report was overseen by an advisory board, which is chaired by the Speaker John Bercow, as well as a panel of cross-party MPs.

The recommended reforms would need to be approved by the House, but Prof Childs is hopeful that there will be cross party support for the proposals.